HTC Magic

Pros: Great build and call quality, Android works very well, video capture

Cons: lack of 3.5mm jack, small internal memory

Summary: This is my first smartphone. I did a lot of research before buying this product. Considered waiting for the iPhone 3G S, Palm Pre or the rumoured BlackBerry Storm 2.

I used several cell phones that my friends owned including the Iphone and various Blackberrys. I decided on the Magic because of its sleek, stylish hardware and simple but powerful OS. The picture quality is better than the iPhone especially the older versions. And viode capture was a big plus for me. I also loved the functionality that the trackball brought to the phone, allowing you to operate the phone without touching the screen if you didnt want to.

The Android Market is nowhere near the size of the App Store but it is safe to assume that the market will grow by leaps and bounds in the coming months and even now, there is no shortage of first-class apps in the Android market.

The soft-keyboard works astonishingly well. I have big thumbs but am able to type with very few errors and good speed. The text auto-correct feature is very efficient and I also love the little vibration feedback you get when you tap a character.

A feature that sets this phone apart from any other is the notifications system. It is re-assuring to know that you will be alerted anytime anyone anywhere makes contact with you. A simple swipe down of the notifications screen and a tap will take you right into that particular app and you could be replying to a text, email etc. within milliseconds.

Multi-tasking is extremely simple with this phone. I havent had any complaints whatsoever with the browser either.

If, like me, you use a lot of Google apps online (Gmail, Gtalk, Gmaps), then this is definitely the phone for you.

It is saddening that such a great phone doesnt come with a 3.5mm jack. However, that is a small inconveniece imo. The small internal memory is also bewildering and was the main reason of my little hesitation in getting the phone.